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Zesterra's® all-natural formula is highly palatable and created from the highest-quality ingredients. Explore below to learn more about how it can help your horses thrive.

Digestion and Appetite Issues in Horses

Very few situations can be more frustrating than preparing nutritious feed for your horse only to have them turn away without showing any interest. Your horse needs to eat a good diet to meet nutrient and energy requirements, but sometimes, they may avoid the most nutritious ingredients in their feeder.

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What Are Common Causes of Digestion and Appetite Issues in Horses?

If a horse is hungry and it’s not sick, it should eat the feed you provide. It should follow its natural instincts to survive. But after doing all you know to do without success, you may be asking, “Why won’t my horse eat anything?” Below are some reasons they may not eat what you provide:

  • Abrupt changes in feed: Horses like to stick to their adopted eating habits. So, all changes to their diet should be made gradually, especially with picky horses.
  • Low-quality feed: Horses sniff their feed before eating. That’s why any ingredient that turns them off can lead to rejection. Make sure there are no rancid or moldy items in the feed.
  • Mineral or vitamin deficiencies: Inadequate supply of B vitamins in the digestive system may reduce appetite. This situation can happen when B vitamins produced by microbes are insufficient. It can also occur when the horse is passing through intense training or going through competitions. A supplement like Zesterra® can help increase the presence of healthy microbes that will produce more B vitamins.
  • Poor living conditions: Keeping a horse isolated in a restricted, dark stable can lead to depression. Also, bullying by other horses can make a horse lose interest in eating.
  • Sickness or injury: A horse that’s in pain or depressed due to illness will naturally lose appetite. Unfortunately, ill horses need to eat more to absorb nutrients for quick recovery.
  • Intense training: As horses train harder, they could lose their desire to eat. It’s important to work against a decline in appetite because, as the horse becomes fitter, it needs more dense feed to boost its performance.

What Causes Poor Equine Digestion?

The fact that your horse eats well and is still maintaining a healthy weight doesn’t imply that it has perfect digestive health. Many domesticated and performance horses are in danger of compromised gastro-intestinal tracts. The following conditions can lead to poor digestive health:

  • Living in a stall for over six hours every day
  • Staying away from a herd for most of the day
  • Having limited access to grass or hay for many hours
  • Feeding on concentrated grain feeds
  • Traveling and competing often
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How Can You Quickly Detect Early Signs of Digestive Distress?

When a horse is suffering from hindgut inflammation and digestive imbalances, you’ll notice the following symptoms:

  • Poor hair coat: If the natural shine and dapples are not there, digestion isn’t optimal.
  • Irritability: Digestive discomfort will make a horse irritable under saddle.
  • Resistance: Horses may be reluctant to go forward or have trouble training due to digestive discomfort.
  • Poor performance: Any discomfort in the gut could impact a horse’s ability to jump and reduce its stride.

How to Boost Appetite in a Horse

While you can’t exactly force a domesticated horse to eat, you can use a few strategies to boost its appetite. Try the following:

  • Provide a large quantity of forage: Horses rely on gut bacteria to produce lots of vitamin B1, which enhances appetite. Give them a lot of fiber — at least five kg per day for an adult. The gut bacteria will feed on this fiber and produce more vitamin B1.
  • Avoid uncooked barley and corn: Most of the starch in uncooked grains will end up in the horse’s hindgut, causing lots of discomfort. If you must add grains, use cooked grains instead.
  • Look out for mold: Mold in grains and hay will create mycotoxins, which lead to reduced appetite. Screen your hay carefully to prevent your horse from consuming mold.
  • Give your horse Zesterra®: A daily dose of Zesterra® will stimulate the growth of healthy microbes that can produce vital B vitamins for improved appetite. This all-natural supplement will also help improve digestion and nutrient absorption.

Get Zesterra® for Improved Appetite and Equine Digestion

Zesterra® is one of the best natural supplements used by horse owners and trainers to boost appetite and enhance digestion while promoting weight gain and high performance. Visit our product page to learn more about Zesterra® today. If you’ve got questions, contact us now for answers.

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